Medina of Tunis

The Medina of Tunis is the historic heart of the Tunisian capital and one of the great old cities of the Islamic world. Under the Almohads and the Hafsids, from the 12th to the 16th century, Tunis ranked among the largest and wealthiest cities of the Maghreb, and the medina preserves some seven hundred monuments — palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas, fondouks and fountains — that bear witness to that golden age. Covered souks selling perfume, fabric, gold and spices radiate from the venerable Zitouna (Great) Mosque at its centre, threading between grand courtyard houses and religious colleges. Despite the growth of the modern city around it, the walled quarter retains a remarkable density of traditional architecture and urban life. Inscribed by UNESCO in 1979, the Medina of Tunis is celebrated as one of the best-preserved and most complete Arab-Muslim historic towns in the region.